Annual defense appropriations bill supports vital reform efforts initiated by the Secretary of Defense

Washington, DC — To provide our service members and their families the benefits they deserve, and to ensure our military is equipped and in a proper state of readiness to deal with 21st century challenges, Congressman Joe Sestak (PA – 07) supported the conference report of the  Fiscal Year 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act. In total, HR 3326 appropriates $631.9 billion for the Department of Defense in Fiscal Year 2010, including $128.2 billion to support ongoing contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and $6.6 billion to train and equip the Afghan national security forces.

The measure provides $6.3 billion to equip our forces in Afghanistan with the new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATVs), which will better protect them from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on rugged terrain.

It provides a 3.4% pay increase for service members. Additionally, it includes $29.2 billion, $2 billion above the President’s request, to provide health care for our troops.

“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a retired Admiral, providing our military with the funding it needs each year is one of my most sacred duties,” the Congressman said on Wednesday. “I was proud to support this reform budget, which mostly conforms with Secretary Gates’s desire to focus on giving our service members the tools and support they need in the field and cut wasteful spending on cold war-era weaponry, such as the F-22, that we don’t need to address the asymmetrical threats we face in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The bill matches the President’s request for funding of the SM-3 interceptor program, which is an essential component of his new sea-based missile shield for Europe, which I have long supported. I am also pleased that the bill contains language based on the Franken Amendment, which would prevent the Department of Defense from contracting with companies who force employees to agree to resolve through arbitration any claims arising out of rape, sexual assault or harassment, or other civil rights claims. In October, I wrote a letter to Rep. John Murtha, the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, urging him to retain this language.”

Congressman Sestak’s projects which were approved in the bill include:

$800,000 for Carbide Derived Carbon for Treatment of Combat Related Sepsis - The project is to develop an advanced treatment of sepsis, which would reduce battlefield complications from blood loss and improve survivability.  

Y-Carbon, Inc. of King of Prussia will be competing for that project.

$1.6 million for Quiet Drive Advanced Rotary Actuator - The immediate application will be used on submarines (such as bow planes and other structures employing actuator technology).  Actuators convert energy from hydraulic, air, or electric power to achieve mechanical movement and control of heavy or remote devices.  Current Navy ships have between 100 to 3,000 actuators each.  At present, these actuators typically use old style hydraulic technology.  Successful completion of the technology will reduce shipboard personnel and reduce repair and maintenance costs. Environmental hazards associated with hydraulic systems will also be eliminated by moving to an electric actuator.  Under prior funding, there has been constructed an electric motor which is currently being evaluated. The present design does not meet the strict acoustic requirements of the US Navy.  The company, using internal funding, will analyze the prototype, correcting these and other technical issues.  Alternate design concepts will be developed and analyzed with the best proposed as the system solution.  

Moog Inc. will be competing to have these actuators manufactured at Moog's facility in Springfield, Delaware County.  

$1.2 million for Miniature Day Night Sight for Crew Served Weapons – This project provides Warfighters with a light with visible illumination for 3000m, IR illumination 1200m, non-lethal weapon, and a remote control with variable zoom. It increases safety of operator and effectiveness of the weapon.

Peak Beam Systems, Inc. of Edgmont will be competing for this project.

$1.6 million for Chemical and Biological Resistant Clothing - Funds for this project would be used to create a material capable of simultaneously being lightweight, robust, breathable, and resistant to chemical and biological agents. Chemical and biological agents unquestionably represent one of the most challenging terrorist-driven threats faced by our soldiers and civilians. This project would help enhance the protective clothing that represents a first line of defense to protect an individual at risk of exposure.

Arkema, Inc. of King of Prussia plans on bidding on this project.

$800,000 for the Beneficial Infrastructure for Rotorcraft Risk Reducation (BIRRRD) program.  The BIRRRD Program will deliver aircraft and test infrastructure to the Army Research Lab (ARL) where ARL will use the test infrastructure to help develop the aircraft to emerging Army and FAA certification standards. The Unmanned Aircraft System will demonstrate technologies that can be transitioned to meet existing military requirements, including the $240 million Navy Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS), USMC Tier II, USCG National Security Cutter, Navy Maritime Domain Awareness, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC).  The funding will help address the unmet DoD requirements for Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) systems.

Dragonfly Pictures, Inc. of Essington will bid for this project.

$3.6 million for X-49A Envelope Expansion Mods - Funding for this project is to modify the X-49A VTDP Compound Helicopter Technology Demonstrator to enable full flight envelope expansion to demonstrate significant improvements in rotorcraft performance, survivability, and life cycle cost.  These modifications incorporate the Adaptive Digital Automated Pilot Technology (ADAPT) and Supplementary Power Unit (SPU) system into the X-49A to enable exploration of flying qualities, performance, and flight loads beyond the current baseline SH-60F NATOPS flight envelope limits in the FY11 timeframe. These tests are necessary to evaluate the potential of this technology to meet the Department of Defense's objective capabilities, while at the same time expanding the technology base for future rotorcraft.  This project is a valuable use for taxpayer dollars because it may lead to the validate the VTDP technology as an affordable means of (i) upgrading our existing helicopters’ speed, range, payload, altitude, survivability, and reliability, and (ii) expanding the technology base for future rotorcraft development.

Piasecki Aircraft Corporation of Essington plans to compete for these funds.

$3.2 million for Distribution Mission Interoperability Toolkit (DMIT)  - DMIT is a suite of tools that enables an enterprise architecture for on-demand, trusted, interoperability among and between mission-oriented Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) systems based on lessons learned from Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Additional spending will allow DMIT to be extended to Joint and coalition requirements, as well as address current strategic weaknesses in Air Force AOC management years ahead of current schedules.   This project is a valuable use for taxpayer dollars because DMIT provides the Air Force with an adaptable process and rich toolkit for increasing interoperability at an enterprise level without major impact to existing systems.  It provides the ability to incorporate network-centric processes and missions using today’s C4I programs providing an early beacon on successful application before billions are spent in the Air Force, Army, Marines, and Joint Forces.  The toolkit leverages best practices from the commercial sector to positively impact the DoD C4I programs.

Accenture National Security Services of King of Prussia will be competing for a part of that funding.

$1.2 million for the Intelligent Remote Sensing for Urban Warfare Operations II National Applied Software Engineering Center (NASEC) - The Urban Sensing project will develop radio frequency (RF) technology for sensors to be deployed on ground and autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). These sensors will collect data for imaging of city canyons and building interiors, combined with tracking and localization of targets in urban settings and underground areas.  This project is a valuable use for taxpayer dollars because the face of battle changing daily, and with hostile situations being managed by rotating forces, decision cycles are shorter than ever. These reduced decision cycles require situation awareness tools applicable to urban settings. The project will combine new technologies for (1) airborne collection of urban situation data with (2) the ability to visualize that urban data and rapidly plan a response. These interlinked technologies will efficiently convey critical situation analyses and decision support to the commanders in those situations and to their superiors.

Villanova University will be receiving these funds.

$3.2 million for the Portable Mobile Emergency Broadband System.  Currently available portable wireless communication systems have bandwidth limitations and force compromises that are unacceptable for high quality video and other information sources necessary for military situational awareness. Direct benefits of this work are improved operational efficiencies and lowered costs for military units due to the network's ability to carry comprehensive maintenance and health monitoring applications that will dramatically reduce the maintenance cycle for vehicles, and the equivalent of placing more vehicles in production roles. This project is a valuable use for taxpayer dollars because situational awareness and operational efficiency of military forces on the battlefield will continue to be greatly improved with the PMEBS project.  This in turn will cut operational costs, save, time, resources and most importantly the lives of military personnel.

Rajant Corporation of Malvern will compete for this funding to continue their work in this area.

$2.4 million for 3D Bias Woven Preform Development to develop a bias woven preform manufacturing capability to enhance the performance, while lowering the cost and weight of the structures under consideration for the Joint Strike Fighter, sustainment of the F-16, the unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) operational system (UOS), space operations vehicles (SOVs), the ACCA program, the Vulture program, and other advanced weapon systems.  This is to address the primary limiting factor in applying composites in airframe structure, the poor damage tolerance and ballistic survivability of conventional 2D joints.

V Systems of Chester will be one of the first competing for part of this contract.

$1 million for Mismatch Repair Derived Antibody Medicines to Treat Staphylococcus-derived Bioweapons.  The funding will be used to develop new therapies to treat patients against exposure to biowarfare agents.  Staphylococcal-based bioweapons are considered one of the highest risk to our national security and protection of our military personnel due to ease of development by terrorist groups and rogue nations.  New potent medicines are needed to reduce this threat and make their use as agents of terror or weapons minimal. Medicines appear effective in animal studies and require additional development for final validation before use in the field.  

Morphotek, Inc. of Exton will be bidding for the contract.

Bill Summary

KEEPING OUR COMMITMENTS TO OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Military Pay: The bill provides a 3.4% military pay increase, 0.5% above the request.

First Class Medical Care: $29.2 billion, $3 billion above 2009 and $1 billion above the request, for the Defense Health Program to provide quality medical care for servicemembers and their families and funding to address the serious financial challenges facing the Defense Health Program; including fully funding the Department of Defense request of $372 million for military medical research; in addition $120 million is included for Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research.

Supporting Military Families: $472.4 million for Family Advocacy programs and full funding for Family Support and Yellow Ribbon to provide support to military families, including quality child care, job training for spouses, and expanded counseling and outreach to families experiencing the separation and stress of war.

Readiness and Training: $154 billion, $1.5 billion above 2009, for the Defense Operation and Maintenance Account to increase readiness and training of our troops. The bill rebalances funding from preparing for Cold War-era type conflicts to the highest priority readiness requirements for the hybrid operations that our military will be facing for the foreseeable future.  

INCREASING OVERSIGHT TO IDENTIFY WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE

Recognizing that the Department of Defense has the largest share of the federal budget, the bill includes a dramatic increase in funding to increase oversight to rein in waste, fraud, and abuse, and makes a concerted effort to in-source inherently government functions.  

Reining in Outsourcing: $5 billion, greater than the previous year, to allow defense personnel, not contractors, to perform critical department functions. The Department estimates that every position that is converted from contract to federal civilian saves on average $44,000 per year.  Additionally, the bill reduces contracted advisory and assistance services by $51 million, and includes general provisions to stop further conversions by the Department of Defense from government functions to contractors.

The bill also directs DoD to in-source the task of vetting and issuing Common Access Cards and report on planned improvements of access control because the Committee found that about 212,000 contractors had been mistakenly been given Common Access Cards, causing a potential security risk.

Inspector General Oversight: $288 million, $16 million above the request, for the Inspector General to hire additional investigators to ensure proper oversight of DoD acquisition and contracting.

Undefinitized Contracts: The bill contains a provision restricting the use of funds in certain aircraft programs until prior year contracts are fully negotiated and definitized so that we know what exactly we are buying; this restores much needed discipline to the contracting process and providing leverage for the department to achieve the best possible pricing for the taxpayer.

IMPROVING MILITARY EQUIPMENT

The bill includes $104.4 billion for procurement, $3.46 billion above 2009 and $816 million below the request, and $80.5 billion for research and development, $17 million above 2009 and $1.9 billion above the request, to develop and field the weapons and equipment our troops need.

Bradley Fighting Vehicles: $526 million as requested for Situational Awareness upgrades to 353 vehicles.

Stryker Combat Vehicles: $364 million in the base bill, $25 million below the request due to excessive program management costs.  

E-2D Hawkeye: $649 million, $142 million above the request, for 3 E-2D Hawkeye aircraft, one above the request; and $362.5 million for the continued development of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.

F-18 Super Hornet: $1.5 billion for 18 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Tactical aircraft, nine above the request; and $1.6 billion for 22 EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft.

F-35 Lightning: $6.2 billion, matching the requested, for the procurement of 30 F-35 Lightning Aircraft, including  16 Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variants for the Marine Corps, 4 Carrier variants for the Navy, and 10 conventional variants for the Air Force.  The bill also includes $465 million, not requested, to continue development and initial procurement of the Alternative Engine for the Joint Strike Fighter.

V-22 Osprey: $2.7 billion for the procurement of 30 MV-22 and five CV-22 Osprey aircraft, equal to the President’s request.

E-8 JSTARS: $62 million, $46 million above the request, for JSTARS re-engineering research and development and $54 million for continued procurement.

Air Force Cargo Aircraft: $2.5 billion for 10 additional C-17s above the budget request; $905 million for five C/HC/MC-130Js and advance procurement for 20 C/HC/MC-130s; $319 million, matching the request, for eight C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft; and $202 million, $49 million above the request, for Infrared Missile Countermeasures for the C-17 and C-130 aircraft.

Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft: $1.2 billion for the continued development of the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft.

Next Generation Aerial Refueling Aircraft: $306 million for the development of the Next Generation Aerial Refueling Aircraft.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): $554 million, matching the request, to procure RQ-4 Global Hawk UAVs; and $489 million for 24 MQ-9 Reapers.

Military Helicopters: $3.34 billion to increase and improve the military’s fleet of helicopters, including $326 million, as requested, for 54 Light Utility Helicopters; $1.26 billion as requested for 79 UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters; $882 million for 27 CH-47 Chinook Helicopters; $584.8 million for 24 UH-1Y Huey/AH-1Z Cobra Helicopters; and $145 million for five HH-60M helicopters and modifications to the existing HH-60G fleet.

Presidential Helicopter: $130 million, of which $100 million is for technology capture to recoup investments in research and development of the VH-71, an increase of $44.8 million above the request.

Tactical Wheeled Vehicles: $498 million for the procurement of Medium Tactical Vehicles, and $613 million for the procurement of Heavy Tactical Vehicles.  The Overseas Contingency Operations portion of the bill includes additional funding for tactical vehicles.

Targeting pods: $68 million, $18.5 million above the request, for targeting pods to increase the combat effectiveness and precision strike ability of U.S. military aircraft.

Guided MLRS Rockets: $293.6 million, as requested, for 2,628 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Rockets, to enhance the precision strike ability for U.S. artillery.

Shipbuilding: $15 billion, $120 million above the request, for the procurement of 7 Navy ships, including: one DDG-51 Guided Missile Destroyer; one SSN-774 Attack Submarine; two Littoral Combat Ships; one Intra-theater Connector Ship; and two T-AKE Auxiliary Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ships.

Enhanced Radar Technology: $32 million, $30 million above the request, for advanced radar technology.

Electronic Warfare: $248.5 million, as requested, for continued development of electronic warfare devices to protect our troops.

Advanced Communications: $880 million, as requested, for continued development of the Joint Tactical Radio System; and $50 million for Digital Communications, $50 million above the request.  The recommendation provides $1.8 billion, matching the request, for a fourth Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellites.

Missile Defense: $589 million, matching the request, for the Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and the Standard Missile 3 (SM-3); $569 million, matching the request, for the continued development of the Patriot/MEADS Combined Aggregate Program; $638.8 million, matching the request, for Ballistic Missile Defense Sensors Capability; $50.5 million, matching the request, for Ballistic Missile Defense European Capability; $202 million, $82.8 million above the request, for the Israeli Cooperative Program; and $80 million, not requested, for the Early Interceptor Program.

Future Combat Systems: $2.2 billion for continued development of the restructured Future Combat Systems Program. The recommendation is $330 million below the request due to excessive termination liability and $1.1 billion below 2009.

SPACE: $292 million, $97.4 million below the request, for the Global Positioning System III, operational control segment (OCX), plus $50 million for next generation military satellite communications system.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA): $3 billion, $246 million below the request for research and development programs because of chronic under-execution.

OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS

The bill does not contain any portion of the Administration’s expected request for additional funds for operations in Afghanistan. The bill does include funding for existing operations and maintenance.

Ongoing Military Operations: $100.1 billion, $2.5 billion below the request, for operations and maintenance, and military personnel requirements for ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to support preparations to continue withdrawal from Iraq, including:

1. •$15 billion for military personnel;
   

2. •$5 billion for the Overseas Contingency Operations Transfer Fund, to respond to the highly variable nature of the costs to rebalance US forces between Iraq and Afghanistan, and to begin the redeployment from Iraq. This account carries protections so that the Congressional defense committees have the opportunity to review and approve any funding actions in this account;
   

3. •$1.2 billion for defense health programs to provide medical care to active forces as well as mobilized Reserve Components, and their family members.  This funding also provides care for combat injuries and other additional support requirements including communications, telemedicine, public health support, and post deployment health assessments.
   

Equipment and Force Structure: $23.36 billion, $1.71 billion above the request, for equipment used by our service members in Iraq and Afghanistan, including:

1. •$6.3 billion, $825 million above the request, for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle Fund to procure over 6,600 new MRAP all-terrain vehicles to protect our troops;
   

2. •$80 million for the procurement of MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, a reduction of $170 million due to request in excess of capacity;
   

3. •$1.1 billion, $187 above the request, for the procurement of High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs);
   

4. •$863 million, $577 million above the request, for the procurement of Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles;
   

5. •$803 million, $180 million above the request, for the procurement of Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles.
   

IMPORTANT POLICY PROVISIONS

No Permanent Bases: Continues a general provision prohibiting the establishment of permanent bases in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Torture: Continues a general provision prohibiting the torture of detainees held in US custody.

CERP: Provides $1.2 billion, a reduction of $300 million from the request, for the Commanders Emergency Response Program (CERP), and withholds $500 million in funding until the department develops and submits a comprehensive spending plan.

Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility: Provides no funds for the closure of the detention facility at Guantanamo Naval base.

OTHER ITEMS

Small Business Loans: Allows the Small Business Administration (SBA) to continue two temporary enhancements to its loan guarantee program through February 28, 2010 to make loans more attractive to borrowers and lenders and to free up capital, with one raising the percentage of loan amounts that the SBA can guarantee to 90%; the other allows it to waive or reduce loan fees. Small businesses represent a major engine for the U.S. economy, but many small business owners have had a difficult time securing needed loans in these tight economic times.

Patriot Act: Extends authorizations through February 28, 2010.

Flood Insurance: Extends the National Flood Insurance Program through February 28, 2010.

Medicare Physician Payments Extension: Delays, through February 28, 2010, a scheduled 21.2% cut in Medicare physician payments.

Surface Transportation Authorization Extension: Extends the authorization for the highway, transit, highway safety and motor carrier safety programs of the Department of Transportation until February 28, 2010.

Unemployment Insurance: Extends expanded unemployment benefits, including increased payouts and longer duration of benefits, through February 28, 2010.

Healthcare Premium Subsidy Extension: Extends through February 28, 2010 the 65% COBRA health insurance subsidy for individuals who have lost their jobs. The job lost eligibility date is also extended. Approximately seven million people benefited from the premium subsidy provided in the Recovery Act.  

Satellite Television Extension and Localism: Extends the compulsory copyright license used by satellite television providers, which expires on December 31, 2009, through February 28, 2010.

Nutrition Assistance: Includes language ensuring the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will have sufficient funding to meet the growing demand for nutrition assistance from modest-income families and provides $400 million in additional funding for state administrative expenses, to speed up processing of applications. SNAP participation increased 18% in the last year to over 37 million people.

Assistance Eligibility: Freezes Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) poverty guidelines at 2009 levels through February 28, 2010 in order to prevent a reduction in eligibility for certain means-tested programs, including Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and child nutrition.